Tents for tourists



Sept 15, 1959 F. E. HOUSTON ETL 2,904,054

TENTS FOR TOURISTS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jane s, 1957 v .2.... 2 mw mw n m b mm d l l l l l l ll Il* n 2 Nm mm mmm om m @N N wx mw LLM -u .FM4 me o E ov AL.. wm vw. 1- mm. E gul .L mm mw m, Nw L. mm n N E om mw\L\ L /lTow n m- 1\ w Nw .m

Sept. l5, 1959 F. E. HousToN ET AL 2,904,054

TENTS FOR ToURrsTs Filed June 5, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 'Y l i l l 29 3 37,.' I I I 27 68 I l I l sa '9 i, l l [l-.U u I I l I l Sept. l5, 1959 F. E. HOUSTON ETAL TENTS FOR TOURISTS 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 5, 1957 United States Patent TENTS FOR TOURISTS Fred E. Houston, Mary E. Houston, and Patricia E. Houston, Lancaster, Pa.; Fred E. Houston, executorl of said Mary E. Houston, deceased Application June 3, 1957, Serial No. 663,084

3 Claims. (Cl. l13S-4) This invention relates to a tent particularly adapted for use by tourists.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a tent which shall enable a small family or group to tour inexpensively, thru use of the many modern camping areas throughout the country.

With the foregoing object in view, further objects of the present invention have been to provide a tent with the following new and useful improvements:

Tent can be both transported and manipulated without interference with usual car luggage space, or access to any part of car. Tent is adapted to be manipulated by only one person, if necessary, yet provides adequate sheltering capacity for three or four cots. Tent is adapted to be used either attached to, or detached from, automobile. When attached, tent provides sheltered access to both doors on one side of car. Detached, car may be positioned for sheltered access to doors on opposite side of car, or to trunk section, greatly facilitating all necessary activities in case of rain. Tent does not require usual stakes and ropes except during high winds. Tent is of `ample height thruout for persons over six feet tall. Tent has wide range of adaptability to weather conditions, needful vfor small children or illness. Tent consists of parts readily replaceable anywhere, in case of damage by storm or accident. Tent can be put in position for occupancy or transportation in approximately twelve minutes. Two of these tents may be carried on one car just as conveniently as one.

Further novel construction and advantages of present invention Aare made apparent by the following description `and drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is an end elevational view of a tent for tourists, attached to an automobile, according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of framework of tent.

Figure 3 is an enlarged, detail view of the U-shaped cap and pin element `adapted to be removably attached to leg members of tent framework. y

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail view of device for adjustably maintaining tension of cords used to impart rigidity to tent framework.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the tent body.

Figure 6 is a plan View of roof section of tent framework, showing means by which roof section of tent body is given a four-directional slope to insure rain shedding.

Figure 7 is a side elevational view of tent structure strapped in position on carrier for transportation. v

Figure 8 is a side elevational View similar to Figure 7, showing carrier means with tent structure removed.

Figure 9 is a detail view of sliding member taken on line 9 9 of Figure l.

Figure 10 is a'sectional view of tent framework showing downwardly projecting plates adapted for attachment to sliding members on carrier means. p

Referring to the drawings: an automobile designated at is provided with suitable carrier means 16 for transporation of tent structure 17. Designated at 18,FigureV iCC 2, is the tent framework. Designated at 19 is a longitudinal bar member of said framework, adapted to be removably attached to carrier means 16, in the manner hereinafter set forth. Designated at 20, 20 are extending bar members, hinged to ends of frame member 19, and forming supporting means for roof and sidewall sections of tent body. Hinged to ends of bar members 20, 20, are leg members 21, 21. Designated at 22 is a longitudinal bar member, having in either end a hole engageable over pin elements 23, 23, vertically projecting from upper ends of leg members 21. Designated at 24 is a longitudinal frame member having leg members 25, 25 hinged to either end. Upper ends of leg members 25, 25 are provided with pin elements 26, 26 engageable in holes in extending bar members 20. Lower ends of respective leg members are provided with pin elements 27, adapted to be inserted into the ground to secure leg members in vertical position. Said pin elements are removably attached to leg members being attached thereto as shown in Figure 3, as follows: pin element 27 is passed thru a hole in U-shaped cap 28, and secured by means of nut 29. Cap is then slipped over end of leg member and removably attached thereto by means of bolt and wingnut 30. By these means provision is made for quick and convenient adaptation of tent to use on macadamized camp sites, where pins could not be used. Replacement of parts -at this point of hardest usage is also made quick and convenient by these means.

Designated at 31 are cords, arranged between framelwork members as shown, by means of screw hooks 32, said cords being secured to lower screw hooks, passed thru upper screw hooks, and fastened to themselves by means of a `device for adjustably'maintaining tension of cords in sulicient degree to impart rigidity to tent framework. Device for adjustably maintaining tension comprises a ring 33, Figure 4, fastened a suitable distance from end of cord, and a pin 34, rfastened to eX- treme end of cord. Pin 34 is passed over ring 33, under cord 31, vand over ring, as shown.l In this relation, ring and pin are drawn along cord until required degree of tension is attained. v

Designated at 35, Figure 5, is the tentbody, comprising squares of flexible material assembled so as to form a roof section 36, side walls 37, 37, ya front wall 38, and a rear wall 39. Roof section is preferably of waterproof plastic material, or the like. As shown in Figure 5, marginal edges of walls are provided with suitable olosure means such as separating zippers 40, whereby tent may be readily adapted yfor various conditions. The Irear wall 39 is partially formed of plastic-screening, providing a picture 'window 41, having an awning sec- Ition 42, adjustable for weather protect-ion and privacy. Adjustability of awning section is provided for as follows, Figure l: longitudinal edge of awning is provided with casing means for insertion of removable bar 43, said bar having horizontally projecting pin elements 44 in each end, engageable in holes in ends of suitable supporting means 45, which are secured to tent body by ties 46. Further weather protected for picture window is provided -in the form of a separate, outside covering, made of clear plastic material, having casing 'meansat each lend for insertion of a removable bar, said bar having 'ties or other suitable means at either end, for securement to tent body. With picture window thus covof blocks 47, arranged one above another in such manner las to form grooves between. Inserted into these grooves are respective ends oif frame members 48, shown in Figure 6, of suitable length andA liexibility -to remain disposed` in an upwardly arcuate shape between ylongitudinal frame members 22 and 24. To prevent frame members 2-2 and 24 `from bowing outwardly Iunder pres sure of flexible, arcuate members 48, a cord 31, as herein-before described, is stretched between frame members 22 and 24, as shown lin Figure 2, prior to insertion of arcuate members 48, into grooves.

It will be seen .that by these means of support, roof section of tent body 'is given a four-directional slope, as seen in Figure l, solving the Vproblems of rainshedding and :ample allover head room, in a manner adaptable to `tents of capacious and varying sizes, according lto present invention. It will be understood that flexible, arcuate members Vneed 'be inserted only in case of rain, if preferred, Vor if occupants are taller than six feet. VIt will be further understood that roof section of tent body covers not only tent enclosure, but extends forwardly to longitudinal frame members 19, forming a sort of car port for sheltered access to 'doors or trunk section of car as hereinbefore stated. v

At lower edges of rmpective wall sections of tent body are casing vmeans for insertion of bar members 49, Figure l. Ends of said bar lmembers are provided with means of securement one tol Ithe other. For example, a straight screw hook 50, in the end of one -bar vmember 49, ris engaged in a screw eye 51, in the end of -another bar member 49. When thus secured one to another, downward force is Iapplied until bar members. touch the ground, vWhen a lcotter pin or other suitable means 52, is passed over the straight screw Vhook into a hole 53, provided in Irespective leg members. By these, or similar means, bar members 49 are secured all around the tent, Iand tent -body is held securely in its proper position when flexible frame members 48 are disposed in upwardly Aarcuate position. Tent body is also uniformly stretched over framework, -giving it a very neat and attractive appearance.

-Designated at 54, VFigure 8, are transverseframermembers of carrier means 16, and `designated at 55 are longitudinal frame members of carrier means. Designated at 56 Aare -suction cups whereby carrier Vmeans may be secured to car ytop in usual manner. Designa-ted at 57 are vertical bar members, secured to :the transverse frame Avmembers 54 land the longitudinal frame members 55 by the respective L-shaped brackets 58. Designated at 59 are sliding members provided with suitable means for removably attaching tent structure, said sliding members providing adjustability required during manipulation of `tent and for unevenness of ground between `car and tent. Sliding Vmembers comprise two blocks 60, 61, as seen yinligure 9, connected to each other by L-shaped plates 62, fastened Ato their respective opposite sides, two to a side. Suitable means for removably attaching tent structure 'to slidingvmembers is provided by a bolt 63, run thru block 61, so as to horizontally projecttherefrom, then secured to downwardly projecting plate 64, provided on 1bar member 19 of tent framework, by -means of wing nut, as shown lin Figures l()` and l.

'Placement of rtent structure on carrier means for transportation, as shown -in Figure 7, is accomplished as follows: car Vis driven into position permitting bolts 63 on ,carrier ymeans to be fastened to `downwardly projecting Hplates 64, on A'tent framework, als shown in `Figure l. VCord between frame/members 22 and 24 is released,

v`provision being made rfor securement of this and remainir1gc :rds 31 V Yto tent framework in -positions readily accesslble during manipulation of tent. Flexible arcuate -members 48 are removed-'from grooves; trans-verse -memleg members as occurs here is provided for as shown in Figure 7, where hinge means 66 comprises two flat plates, so positioned on framework as to permit folding of legs: in overlapped relation.

Bar members 49 are removed from casing means in side walls 37, and all frame members thus far removed are laid beneath running board lof automobile for later disposal on carrier. Closing vmeans of tent are disengaged all around and side walls are tossed on top of roof section. Beginning at rear wall tent body is then rolled up, front wall being included a't 'suitable point during rolling procedure, and placed on transverse lframe members 54 of fcarrier. Cords 31, Figure 3, are then released and secured to framework as previously stated. Longitudinal frame member 22 is removed. Leg members 21 are folded and fastened to under side of members 20, which in turn are folded inwardly against frame member 19, and secured by impalement on Ipin element 67, horizontally projecting therefrom. Overlapping of leg members as occurs here is provided for as shown in Figures 2 and 6, where hinge means 68 `comprises two L-shaped plates, so positioned on pframework as to permit folding of legs Vin overlapped relation. Frame member 24 is then impaled on pin element 67, and Vfollowed by a wing nut. Remaining frame members are then placed back of vertical bar members 57 of carrier, and straps 6 9 may then 'be Apassed around these and rolled up tent body, fastening entire :tent structure Very securely to carrier.

Setting up of tent is substantially the reversal of this procedure.

It will be seen that tent structure Ais a't all times manipulated sectionally, and Vthat therefore, despite its adequate capacity for three -or four cots, is very light and easy to manipulate. It will also be seen 4that two of these tents could easily be transported on a carrier with both sides adapted according to present invention, and still not interfere with usual car top luggage space.

While the foregoing description lhas disclosed specifically the novel construction and arrangement of parts of a tent for tourists, it will be understood that various modications of the construction may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

What we claim is:

Vl. In a 'tent structure adapted `for use with an automobile, a foldable frame comprising a longitudinal bar member adapted to be removably attached to a carrier means removably mounted on the roof of a car; transverse extending spaced apart parallelbar membershinged to ends of said longitudinal bar member; leg members hinged to free ends of said transversely extending Ybar members; a separate supporting section comprising a longitudinal bar member materially spaced from the 'free ends of the transversely bar members and having Yleg members `hinged to either end and adapted to lbe attached underneath the transversely extending 'bar members; va separate longitudinal bar member having apertured ends for engagement with vpin elements on top of the 'leg members hinged to the free Yends -of the transversely extending bar members, thus forming a substantially square framework for support of 'a ylexible cover, which framework is-compactly disposable on car top car rier by folding the leg members against 'respective bar members to which they are hinged, then folding transversely extending bar members inwardly against v'longitudinal bar member attached to carrier means, kandpositioning separate supporting section against and ,parallel thereto, said bar members being secured in this relation by impalement on horizontally projecting pin element provided on longitudinal bar member attached to carrier means. l

2. Afoldable tent'frame as in claim ll wherein the roof section comprises bar members o`f suitable length and ilexibility to remain disposed in an upwardly arcuate shape, 'between the longitudinal frame member vof the supporting section and the separate longitudinal bar member, said longitudinal frame members being provided With pairs of blocks to form grooves for the insertion of ends of respective flexible arcuate members, and said flexible arcuate members providing a four directional slope and tautness to exible cover, insuring eicient rain shedding and adequate head room.

3. In a tent structure, a foldable frame as in claim 1, and means for securement of a flexible cover thereto, comprising casing means at bottom edges of four sides of said flexible cover for the insertion of bar members 5 equalization of strain on flexible cover.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Olson Apr. 1, 1930 Adams Ian. 24, 1939 Eskew Feb. 12, 1952 

